Can property investment be a well-paid career? One man thinks so and he’s coming to Bradford to tell you why

A man who made his first million pounds from investing in property is keen to help others realise similar dreams and is set to share his strategies with anyone who wants to learn.

Property guru Samuel Leeds is bringing his Investors Crash Course to Bradford as part of a UK tour which sees him teach the basics of how to buy, refurbish and refinance. According to Samuel, learning his three-step process can lead to an improved income and lifestyle or even a new career.

You don’t have to know all about property to get involved, nor do you need to have money available to invest from the start, he says.

Start small

If becoming a property millionaire sounds like a pipe dream, Samuel claims that almost 40,000 people did just that last year in the UK alone. Many property investors start small and that was certainly the case for Liverpool father and son Carl and Kenny Hawksworth.

The pair previously had separate jobs; Carl owned a construction company while Kenny had a resin floor business which wasn’t doing as well as he’d hoped.

Knowing that his son was downhearted about work, Carl suggested a joint enterprise and, since he’d heard of Samuel Leeds, he found an Investors Crash Course scheduled at Heathrow and booked two places at just £1 each.

Determination

Carl was happy to build a business from scratch with input from his son and Kenny was determined to work in property “whether the crash course was any good or not.” It was a winning combination – the pair pooled their experience and contacts and signed up to join the Property Investors Academy, choosing deal selling as their preferred approach.

Things started slowly and felt like a ‘slog’ for the first few months but that changed when Kenny found a buy-to-let for an investor. The property needed renovating so they started work on the project but it didn’t stop there.

Serviced accommodation

Kenny realised that they could take on the house as a rent-to-rent – meaning they’d rent it from the owner and give him a guaranteed income but would then let it as serviced accommodation for contractors.

This initial deal was a big success, helped by the support available to academy students through experienced mentors guiding them along the way.

Although the property world has been a learning curve for Carl and Kenny with some hitches along the way, they say they’ve hit more high spots than low ones. During this year’s British Open Golf Tournament on Merseyside, for example, they rented out a nearby flat and, in just one week, netted a profit far above their usual monthly rent.

Expanding portfolio

The father and son are now busy building up a property portfolio and have high hopes for a recently sourced property deal in a prime location near one of the Mersey tunnels.

And, with foremen now in place to ease the day-to-day demands of jobs, Carl is able to spend less time on site and more time on business planning while Kenny deals with property viewings and social media.

The property entrepreneurs agree firmly on some key factors for success; “You have to be realistic about your construction costs when assessing a potential buy, refurbish and refinance deal,” they say. “Don’t try to inflate those numbers to make it work. If it doesn’t work move on.”

Research is key

They also advise fellow investors to do their research, get the data right and recognise there’s a difference between the asking price and the true market value. “Compare what you’re paying per square metre in that area on average with the asking price. If it is more, and the property has been improved, then that’s justified.”

Samuel, who’s brother Russell is his business partner, is especially happy to see the father and son enjoying the fruits of their labours. “It’s great working with family,” he says. “Communication is important. I’m really pleased to see Carl and Kenny winning in business.”

Book your £1 ticket now

The Bradford Property Investors Crash Course event takes place on Saturday, October 21 at Cedar Court, Rooley Lane, BD5 8HW and £1 tickets can be purchased online (late cancellation/no show fees apply)

Disclaimer: This article is paid for, sponsored content and does not reflect the views of the Burnley Express or National World. People should always seek independent advice in matters of finance and investments.